SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Most of the attractions at Arizona Boardwalk,formerly known as Odysea in the Desert, will reopen on Thursday, May 21, including Odysea Aquarium, Butterfly Wonderland, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, Laser + Mirror Maze, Surprise Your Eyes, and Pangaea: Land of the Dinosaurs.
VR Extreme, a virtual reality attraction that opened in March, and Polar Play, an ice bar experience, will remain closed for now, the complex said Monday in a news release.
The move comes nearly a week after Arizona's stay-at-home order expired, though Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has encouraged citizens to continue to follow the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Arizona Department of Health Services.
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Some of the restaurants and stores in the complex, which is located within the Salt River's Talking Stick Entertainment District, will also reopen on Thursday, such as Johnny Rockets, Nekter, Pizza Time, Coffee Cover, Frozen Penguin Ice Cream, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and Sugar Drop Candy Shop.
For those planning to visit Odysea Aquarium, they have implemented new safety protocols to encourage and maintain social distancing:
- Reserved entry times every 30 minutes
- Selling tickets online and via contact-less kiosks
- Limiting the number of people inside the aquarium at one time
- Installing social distancing markers at key exhibits
- Adding more hand sanitization stations around the aquarium and increased cleaning
- All employees will wear masks and undergo temperature checks
The aquarium's touch pool, Kids Cove, and 3D movie experiences remain closed. They have also suspended their behind-the-scenes tours and animal encounters, such as meet-and-greets with the penguins, according to a news release.
People are also encouraged to follow all CDC-recommended guidelines, including wearing a mask, staying six feet away from others, limiting groups to less than 10 people, and postponing trips when feeling sick.
Karin Gallo, public relations manager for Arizona Boardwalk, said the other attractions in the complex will open with reduced capacities and increased cleaning, but will not require timed-ticketed entry.
When the complex opens, here are the current hours for the attractions that will be reopening:
OdySea Aquarium
Sunday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Butterfly Wonderland
Sunday – Wednesday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m
Thursday – Saturda, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
Sunday – Thursday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Pangaea Land of the Dinosaurs
Sunday – Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Laser + Mirror Maze
Sunday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Surprise Your Eyes
Sunday – Thursday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
